To the Baltimore Jewish Community:

We are writing to inform the public that anyone who has traveled from an area where there are likely to be high numbers of coronavirus cases (including New York, New Jersey, and Eretz Yisrael), should immediately self-quarantine, according to the accompanying guidelines. 

There are hundreds of young men and women who are returning home at this time. With the start of mass testing, large pockets in the frum community in the New York area have been shown to be infected with the coronavirus, and it is likely that there are many other areas which have not yet been discovered. As such, anyone travelling from those areas should be considered a possible carrier of infection. The potential for spread from these individuals is extremely high, and could seriously accelerate the rate of infection in our city. 

Therefore, it is critical that those returning to the Baltimore area self-quarantine according to the recommendations of our health professionals.

Robert Edelman, MD
Professor Emeritus, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Heath at University of Maryland SOM

Howard Lederman, MD PhD
Immunodeficiency/Infectious disease, Johns Hopkins University

Susan V. Lipton, MD, MPH
Pediatric Infectious Disease, Sinai Hospital

Ari Elman, MD

Michael Elman, MD

Yoel Jakobovits, MD

Yosef Levenbrown, MD

Lauren Mayer, M D

Dani Poliakoff, MD

Jonathan Ringo, MD

Ron Samet, MD

Netanel Schwob, MD

(Additional signatures to follow)

General guidelines for those returning from high risk areas:

When in doubt, stay at home. If you even think you may be feeling under the weather, do not leave your home, do take your temperature, and call your primary care doctor. See below for further details. 

Even if you are feeling well:

Do not go to stores. Anywhere where you are in close contact with others is likely to spread the infection. 

Do not go visit friends at their homes. 

Do not go to visit grandparents, or individuals who have chronic lung or heart diseases.

You may go for a walk outside, but try to keep about a 6 foot distance from other people. 

Within the house, keep a distance (preferably 6 feet) from others in the home. Try not to spend too much time in common areas such as kitchens, living rooms, or dining rooms. When setting up a place to spend time learning, using a computer, etc., do it in a private room, and not in a common area. Do not share drinks, food, or utensils with family members. 

If possible, those who are returning should not share bedrooms with siblings. If there's no other options, try to keep the beds at least 6 feet apart. 

Consider having a separate bathroom, or at least wiping down the faucet after using the sink. Do not share hand towels. 

Keep an oral or axillary thermometer at home. If you are starting to feel warm, take your temperature, by mouth or under your arm. Do not rely on forehead or ear thermometers. 

At the first sign of any respiratory illness - such as scratchy throat, runny nose, or minor cough - you must totally quarantine. Stay in your room for the time being, and call a doctor immediately to discuss getting tested. Do not got to your doctors office without speaking with a doctor first, and do not go to the emergency room unless there is concern for a true emergency. Wear a bandana or hold a tissue around your mouth if you need to pass through common areas. Household members may be infected, and should quarantine as well until further advice from a medical professional or public health official is available.

After 14 days and no symptoms, you can safely assume that you did not bring the virus from whatever area you came from. Please continue to follow what the community rabbonim and health officials are recommending at that time.